Etrex Summit + Tracking Derby Noob

[mrken 0]

Hello,

I am a newer jumper (recently got B license) that wanted to focus on improving my tracking skills and wanted to see if my distance covered is improving. I have an old Garmin Etrex Summit from my hiking days that I wanted to use for tracking derby (as I am too poor right now to buy a foretrex, blew all my $$$ on AFF/Coaching). So I searched here on the forums for "etrex summit" and quickly learned that firmware updates were available for my unit. I went and installed those updates with no problem. I think modified the belt clip case that I purchased with the unit by removing the belt clip and stitching on a thick cordura band in its place so that I could easily attach the unit to my chest strap. Unfortunately there are some issues I am still fuzzy on and also was not able to obtain a signal in the plane or during the course of the jump [Looked down at the unit under canopy to see "Please Wait....Tracking Satellites :( ]. Since I am tracking I was seated to go out last, within view of the cockpit and also next to a small window.

So first....when exactly should I turn the unit on? Before I got on the plane or when I am close to altitude?

Secondly, the Etrex Summit has a similar but not identical feature set of the ForeTrex; mainly I cannot identify how to actually record a track from a specific/time or point. It seems to just always be recording, whereas on the ForeTrex it seems that you can actually set it to a RECORD mode. So I am concerned with it recording unecessary parts, like the plane's climb to altitude. Can this unit be used successfully for tracking? Otherwise i'm thinking about ebaying it at a loss to just cover the cost of a ForeTrex 101 (I no longer hike/geocache anyway).

However if anyone here can offer any help/advice to getting the most out of my Summit; it would save me a headache and possible loss of $$$.

Thanks,

Ken

[KrisFlyZ 0]

Chest strap and wrist are not the most ideal places to mount the GPS.

Avoid chest strap.

Wrist is better but there are better places to mount a GPS. Look at this page

http://www.flybirdman.com/projects/flytrack.html

for probably the best place to mount a GPS. I mount mine on the helmet.

The recomendation(with the units that you are talking about) seems to be to start just before exit but make sure you have got a good fix on the day you want to log on the ground(so that when you turn it on in the airplane just before exit, it is a warm restart).

Kris.

[LouDiamond 1]

Ken, the unit you have will do fine. However, there are a few things you must do prior to boarding the A/C. The most important one is turning the unit on, on the ground and allowing it to acquire satellites, the more the better but 4 will suffice. I have had good results with that same GPS receiver mounted on my chest strap (see links below)A search of the forums using "GPS" will give you a good deal of reading and advice. Check out these for starters.

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=879677;search_string=gps%20mounting;#879677

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=870397;search_string=gps%20mounting;#870397

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2270527;search_string=gps%20mounting;#2270527


I'm in Eloy now, so if you can make it to the DZ during the week I'd be glad to help you out.

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[mrken 0]

Okay so I was able to at least get a signal and record the canopy portion of my jump this time (progess!) But still didn't get the freefall portion :(

Also Im thinking about fashioning a leather/nylon wrist strap and mounting the unit to my wrist instead; though it will be a bit bulky. I hope this will work better.

[KrisFlyZ 0]

Dude spend the time and mount it on helmet or wingsuit....it will be worth the effort.

Kris.